EDITORIAL
POSTAL CRUSADER: MARCH-2013
STRIKE IS OVER, BUT THE STRUGGLE WILL
CONTINUE.
WE ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH
The two
days historic strike that shook the country is over. About twelve crores
workers participated in the strike. About ten lakhs Central Government
employees including five lakhs postal and RMS employees joined the mass upsurge
of the Indian working class. In many states the strike turned into total bundh
and in other parts of the country also it affected all the sectors of industry
and other service sectors. The total unity and commitment exhibited by the
entire trade unions has no parallel in the history of our country.
The Central Government tried to
ignore or underestimate the strike in the initial stage. But the largest mobilistaion
of the workers throughout the length and breadth of the country, compelled the
Government to negotiate with the leaders at last minute. The first round
discussion held with the cabinet Minister for labour, Sri Mallikarjun Kharge
and second round discussion with the Group of Cabinet Ministers headed by Sri.
A. K. Antony, Defence Minister, failed as the Government simply sought more
time and was not ready to settle any of the demands raised by the unions and
appealed the leaders to call off the strike. The Secretary, Department of Posts
also made a similar appeal to call off the strike, even when the main demands
raised by the Postal JCA (NFPE & FNPO) remained unsettled.
In addition to the demands raised by
the Central Trade Unions, the Confederation of Central Government Employees
& Workers and the Postal JCA has raised the demands of constitution of
seventh Central Pay Commission, merger of 50% DA with pay, removing the
restriction on compassionate appointments, filing up of all vacant posts,
Departmentalization of GDS and related issues, Revision of wages of casual
labourers and regularization, scrapping of PFRDA bill, raising the bonus
ceiling limit, grant of five promotions, OTA revision, abolition of posts,
outsourcing, contractorisation, privatization, cadre restructuring etc. also in
the strike notice served to the Government and the Department of Posts.
Government was not ready to settle any of the above demands and hence the
question of calling off the strike did not arise at all.
In the Postal the strike was
conducted under the banner of Joint council of action (JCA) comprising NFPE
& FNPO. The Strike was near total in majority of the circles and about 60
to 80% in the remaining circles. The entire Postal and RMS services were
paralysed for two days. Both Departmental employees and Gramin Dak Sevaks
exhibited perfect unity in the strike. NFPE and its affiliated unions including
GDS had already conducted a one day strike on 12th December 2012.
Naturally, there was apprehension about successfully organizing two days strike
within a short span of two months. But the mass scale participation of the
employees in the two days strike proved that workers are ready even for still
higher form of action, if the Government is not ready to settle their genuine
and legitimate demands.
What next is the question before us
and working class of our country. Even though the two days strike is over, we
have no other go, except carrying forward the struggle with added vigour taking
inspiration from the mass sanction and determination of the workers at large.
There is no short cut. As correctly pointed out by Late Com. K. G. Bose who
revolutionized the P&T Trade union movement- “the organized trade union movement has drawn lessons that all
illusions about the Government policies should be given up and has come to the
conclusion that it is not a question of appealing to the sense of injustices of
the Government, but the relative strength of the organized movement and the
forces combating it, which will decide their future”.
The Government and the ruling class
will try their best to implement their policies by retaining the power and
their supremacy over the people of the country and working class. But history
has taught us that they cannot continue their anti-people, anti-worker policies
forever. A day will come and the balance of power will definitely change in
favour of the toiling masses of this country and the ruling class and their
neoliberal policies will be thrown to the dustbin of history and an alternative
force with alternative policies shall emerge defeating the policies of the
present day ruling class. The alternative policy will never be the imperialist
globalization polices. It will be a policy which will lead us to the path of
socialism. That day shall come, no sooner than later. Such a change is not
easy. We have to suffer and be ready for bigger sacrifices. NFPE is committed
to this task.
The power-that-be should not be under
the illusions that the working class will not go for another strike in the near
future. They should clearly understand that-“the fire that is burning with
flames and the fire that is burning beneath the ashes, are both fire”. The fire
beneath the ashes may burst out at any time again as a wild fire. The growing
anger, protest and discontentment among the common people and workers may burst
out at any time. No Government on earth can withstand such a mass upsurge of
the common people and the toiling masses. Government should take note of the
writings on the wall. Brutal killing of the workers, severe victimizations and
using the force to suppress the protest, may not succeed.
Comrades, the path before us is not
full of roses, but full of obstacles and of sufferings. But we are sure that at
the end of the tunnel, there will be light. If winter comes, can they prevent
the onset of the spring? Let us move forward unitedly with the working class of
our country and let us loudly proclaim without any hesitation that – “We are on the
right path”.
